Dallas Safari Club Tops $750K in 5 Years for Texas Projects

DALLAS — Since 2006, Dallas Safari Club (DSC) has granted more than $750,000 in funding for wildlife and habitat conservation, youth and public education, and hunter advocacy programs within the state of Texas.

DSC passed the milestone, five-year figure in November.

The Texas total represents 36 percent of all DSC grants issued worldwide since 2006.

DSC-funded projects in Texas have included desert bighorn sheep restoration, several university research projects, firearm safety instruction, public lectures, introducing youths to traditional outdoor recreation and conservation, providing venison for needy families and more.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has received a number of DSC grants in recent years which helped fund the state’s National Archery in the Schools Program, desert bighorn project, fisheries projects, life insurance for game wardens, Operation Game Thief, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo and symposiums.

Carter Smith, executive director of Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., said, “The generosity of Dallas Safari Club towards these important wildlife conservation and sporting programs has simply been unending. Over the years, DSC has been one of our closest and most longstanding partners. We appreciate all they do to foster a strong conservation ethic among Texas sportsmen and to promote our great outdoor traditions to new generations of hunters and anglers. Rest assured, we could not do our work at Texas Parks and Wildlife without them.”

DSC grant recipients in Texas include:

Armed Forces Foundation

Big Brothers, Big Sisters

City of Dallas, Trinity Strand Project

Conservation Fund of Texas

Dallas Ecological Foundation

Dallas Museum of Nature and History

Dallas Pistol Club

Delta Waterfowl

Hunters for the Hungry

Park Cities Quail

Dr. Randall Eaton

Tarleton State University

Texas A&M University

Texas Bighorn Society

Texas Conservation Alliance

Texas Outdoor Partners

Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation

Texas State University

About Dallas Safari Club (DSC)

Desert bighorns on an unbroken landscape, stalking Cape buffalo in heavy brush, students discovering conservation. DSC works to guarantee a future for all these and much more. An independent nonprofit organization since 1982, DSC has become an international leader in conserving wildlife and wilderness lands, educating youth and the general public, and promoting and protecting the rights and interests of hunters worldwide.

“Dallas Safari Club has become an international force in conservation but we like to help with worthy projects here at home, too,” said Ben Carter, DSC executive director. “The fact is, we’re granting more money today than anytime in our history and we’re positioned to do that because of the quality and growth of our main annual fundraiser—our convention and expo.”

The DSC annual convention and expo will be Jan. 6-9, 2011, at the Dallas Convention Center.

The event will feature more than 1,171 booths, 740 exhibitors and 338,000 square feet of exhibit space. Exhibitors include outfitters and professional hunters from around the world, along with gun makers, optics and gear companies, artists, jewelers, clothiers, furriers and more.

The public is welcome to attend and a record crowd of some 32,000 attendees is expected. Daily admission is $20 per person.